[media-credit id=75 align=”aligncenter” width=”495″][/media-credit] More than 1,800 people registered to run in the first Commitment Day event held Jan. 1 in Denver.

Getting up before, say, noon on New Year’s Day isn’t most people’s idea of a good time, but running a 5K at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1 turned out to be the perfect way to start 2013.

This was the first Commitment Day run (commitmentday.com) put on by Life Time Fitness, which rolled out in Denver and 25 other cities last week, with 39,016 signed up to run nationwide, according to Lauren Flinn, public relations specialist for Life Time. More than 1,500 were said to have actually shown up in Denver, but 1,820 had registered, with a portion of their $39 fee going toward a handful of charities (you could also waive your registration and instead enter by fundraising a larger entry fee for charity).

As usual, groups in tutus and other costumes turned out to have a good time, and it wasn’t a race, so families were walking with strollers and. My family — including one teen who began under some protest but ended smiling — ran the whole way if only to stay warm in the starting temperature of 18 degrees.

Denver residents Kaitlin Pianowski and Michael Bermel knew their trip to Cancun was going to be “magical,” they say, but they never expected it to be this special.

As they were checking in for their flight home at Cancun International Airport yesterday, they were informed by the gate agent that they were going to be upgraded to First Class. Why? Because the computer had determined that Pianowski was the 14 millionth passenger in 2012.

“We were in shock,” Pianowski says. “We were led to security, where we met the director of tourism, the director of sales for the airport, and the director of the Cancun Airport. A woman then appeared dressed in traditional clothing with a banner congratulating me on being the 14 millionth passenger.”

Yoga fans who like practicing outdoors with dozens of other lithe and limber compadres, rejoice: Yoga Rocks the Park is in full swing for the summer season.

This year’s gatherings will bounce between Alamo Placita and Sunken Gardens parks in Denver. The Sunday morning yoga-fests start at 9am with registration and check-in, then music, kids programming and class demos.

Classes start at 10 am, taught by a different teacher (or team of teachers) each week. Tickets are $10 (except on July 15, which is a designated FREE DAY).

“Ewww, that’s what Grandma’s lungs look like,” said a girl of about 10 years old. “I don’t even want to touch her now, that’s nasty.” Her mom told her that wasn’t nice, and the girl replied, “Well, you should quit smoking, too. Yours are gonna to look like that, too.”

Healthy and diseased lungs, as well as other cancerous tissue, scoliosis-plagued spines, arthritic knees and, my personal favorite, fat that looked like the white stuff on bacon, as seen lining the body of a 300-pound man — enough to make one want to run out of there, literally, as in do a marathon to work off whatever extra weight you might be carrying.

But don’t think it’s all bad: Really, the best part about “Body Worlds” is the way the plastination process, invented by German anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens more than three decades ago, allows the subjects in the exhibits to be placed in such dynamic poses as “The Figure Skating Pair with Woman Lifted,” where you can see muscles flexed, or the fascinating stages of fetal development.

I like deals that represent real savings — I don’t know about you, but I’m weary of the travel “deals” out there right now that turn out to be about the same price but they’re throwing in a free breakfast, or they raise the original price before the discount, or some other bogus “value added” baloney.

But right now I’m driving around a Ford Focus that I got for half price under Enterprise’s current deal, 50 percent off for weekend car rentals. Note, though, that it does not apply to airport rentals, which is kind of a bummer, and you have to rent Friday through Monday.

But as someone who has lived carless in downtown Denver for three years, I am quite familiar with Enterprise’s rates, as well as with the super-friendly crew at the 2255 Broadway location, which like most of the Enterprise folks, will cheerfully come pick you up — and I’m here to confirm that they are actually charging half of what they normally do. It’s pretty sweet.

Of course, there are restrictions, but an economy car at this rate comes out to $16.62 a day right now, and the promotion runs through May 21.

Well, I would be getting it were it not for the incessant ringing from the cell phone of a United employee, who not only has the most annoying ring tone on the planet set to “louder than the barking of a large dog,” but also gets a phone call every five minutes, which she must take and then run into the service area and then carry on an animated conversation, which all of us can hear, as well.

The funny thing is, here at Denver International Airport at 10 a.m. on a Sunday, the Red Carpet Club is full, and we’re all being soooo quiet and respectful of each other. She’s banging dishes around so loudly that, between that and the cell phone, it’s like the East High School cafeteria after a pep rally.

Also, what’s up with the tacky tape across the glass? The place looks like the aftermath of a crime scene. For several hundred bucks a year to belong here (depending on your frequent flier status),it’s not to much to ask for the employees to follow the courtesy rules and for the place to look decent. At this rate, my fee would be better spent on a new pair of headphones and I could gut it out in the main concourse…

This first deal is one you need to take advantage of quickly: through Dec. 31, the St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder is offering a “Time Well Spent” package for $199 per night for stays Sunday through Thursday–you get a $50 activity credit per night per room for use at the restaurant and for spa treatments.

There’s a new lodging in Aurora, an option if you have out-of-towners, but also to park and head out to DIA if that makes sense for you. The Cambria Suites, a Choice Hotel is located at 16001 E. 40th Circle (they also have new sites in Pueblo and Fort Collins), and to celebrate they are offering “Park and Fly,” which costs $129 for a night’s sleep, a shuttle to the airport and the ability to leave your car for ten days.

Up in the Vail Valley’s Avon, The Westin Riverfront, recently ranked #2 in the “10 Best Snow Resorts for Families” by Parents magazine, is sponsoring a video contest. Create a video featuring your visit to Beaver Creek and the Westin and upload it to You Tube by the 15th of January, February or March (each month has a theme), and whoever receives the most views of their video by the 15th of the following month wins a free Flip Video Camcorder from the Westin. For rules and more info visit The Westin’s contest rules site.

Another giveaway comes from the YMCA of the Rockies, surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park, which is giving away a family reunion. Perennially a pick as one of the best places to hold a family reunion, the YMCA of the Rockies asks that entrants e-mail their name, address, telephone number, email address and a brief statement, 30 words or less, about why you and your family would like to hold your reunion at YMCA of the Rockies to reunions@ymcarockies.org. The winner of the free family reunion will receive 10 lodge rooms for two nights at either the YMCA of the Rockies or Snow Mountain Ranch and daily breakfast for each participant, for up to 30 people. Reservation will be based upon availability and should be used by Dec. 15, 2010. The winner will be notified on Apr. 2. Visit the lodging site for more info and rules.

One of Colorado’s premiere dude ranches, Vista Verde near Steamboat Springs has some great prices starting Jan. 2. Through Mar. 7, the “Share and Save” deal nets 50 percent off for every guest after the first two people in a cabin (who pay regular rates). Also, if you send a new guest to the ranch (a move that normally nets you Vista Bucks to get dollars off your own stay), everyone gets 25 percent off a stay. And finally, stay 3 nights and get the 4th night free. The discounts cannot be combined. Check out Vista Verde for yourself.

Looking to get out of Colorado? How about Santa Fe, where the Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa , five minutes from the Plaza and a gateway to the Santa Fe National Forest (and thus 25 minutes to the Santa Fe Ski Area), is offering a ski package that includes scheduled transportation to the ski area, breakfast to go, resort fe and a welcome skier amenity. Rates start at $149 per night (double occupancy) for a deluxe room with fireplace.

If you’re thinking about somewhere a bit warmer, in Miami Beach, Fla., The Palms Hotel & Spa’s “Sip, Spa & Shop” package includes a three-night stay for two, with two spa welcome cocktails, daily breakfast buffet, a choice of two 50-minute massages or facials per pseron and 25 percent off Aveda products, as well as a Bloomingdale’s VIP wallet filled with discount coupons and deals for use during your visit. The packages starts at $989 (based on double occupancy and subject to availability). The offer is good through September.

An even toastier destination would be Turks and Caicos, where Northwest Point Resort, an all-suite property on the Northwest Beach if featuring 40 percent off its best-available rates and a free car for bookings made until Apr. 15. You also get 25 percent off on diving and deals on snorkel trips. Best available runs $275-$405 for a one-bedroom after the first of the year; check the website for larger units and rates.

In an international study done, interestingly, by AXE, the men’s grooming product company, Denver International Airport ranked 23rd out of the 33 largest metropolitan international airports for lonely singles looking to make a connection of a different kind — which means we just barely missed being named in the top ten worst.

Why so low? The lack of amenities for running into other folks is the biggest reason, according to the study. If you get delayed — the study says the average delay out there is 52 minutes — AXE recommends stopping in at the Boulder Beer Tap House to find folks or getting a massage at one of the two outlets. The study also mentions that 59 snow days make for more grounded flights, also offering time in the terminals.

The number one airport for finding dates is Liberty International in Newark, N.J., with New York’s JFK coming in second and Philadelphia International coming in third. I’m not surprised we didn’t beat Paris’ Charles de Gaulle or O’Hare, but Detroit at #11? Come on.

Word is to expect record delays this holiday season. If you’re single and looking for love in all the right aiports, here’s hoping you’re going through one of the top three.

So legendary concert promoter Barry Fey calls one morning because he wants to get out of Dodge — or Denver — and eat some of his favorite foods, and he’s calling me because we share a history of ridiculously over-excessive dining. Of course, neither one of us can eat the way we used to, but still, it’s fun to dream.

He says we should start in Maine, at Chauncey Creek at Kittery Point, with lobsters that they tear apart for you. You eat them on the river at the pier, and you supply your own beer and wine, your own sides, whatever. Chauncey hauls out the crustaceans, big and beautiful and as fresh as you’re ever going to find. They also have a raw bar. It’s messy and magnificent. “They’re the most succulent things imaginable,” Fey says.

Next stop: New York City, first for pastrami at Katz’s Deli (205 E. Houston St.), the most melt-in-your-mouth meat and great people-watching. “Then you have to go to a show that night and go to Luger’s for lunch the next day,” Fey says. He’s talking about Peter Luger Sreak House (178 Broadway in Brooklyn), forever it’s been Fey’s favorite (he calls it “the Beatles of steaks”), but nowadays he only goes there for lunch. “You can’t go there for dinner if you care about yourself,” he says.

Walking to Chicago would be the best way to work off this trip, but it’s ribs, not pizza, that Fey would start off with — at Carson’s — and then Pizzeria Uno. Both have multiple locations.

It’s serious barbecue next, so first it’s Kansas City, Mo., here we come, starting at Gates Bar-B-Q and then Arthur Bryant’s BBQ. “Then if the chicken is still good at Stroud’s, we have to go there. Pan-fried,” Fey says.

And, finally, it’s time for “serious gorging,” according to Fey, so Memphis, Tenn., it is. “If Charlie knows we’re coming, we start at the Rendezvous, “Fey says. “We’re on a mission. He has to put on the dry rub, and then make sure they are juicy. It’s the only way.”

After the ribs at Rendezvous, it’s on to Interstate Bar-B-Que for more ribs.

“When you get in a cab in Memphis and ask where to go for good barbecue, you know whre they always say?” Fey asks. “‘My backyard.’”

The other barbecue Fey likes in Memphis for barbecue is made by a bunch of lawyers, doctors and businessmen for the Memphis in May competition by a group called Redneck Bar-B-Q Express. “Their stuff would make you weep,” he said. “Amazing.”

Fey says after all that, we could go home, unless we had time to pop over to San Francisco for “the best Chinese food outside of China” at R & G Lounge on Kearny Street.

“That might be overkill, but my insurance is paid up. I could die in peace,” he says. “And if we actually did this trip, they’d have to meet us at DIA at the end to pick us up with wheelbarrows.”

Starting Oct. 20, Greyhound will reinstate its service to Salt Lake City, just in time for ski season. That means cheap, if not exactly quick — not to mention scenic — trips to some of the best powder outside of Colorado.

To celebrate the launch, Greyhound is offering $1 one-way tickets to and from Salt Lake City and Denver Oct. 19-Oct. 26. Visit greyhound.com for more info.

Travel and Fitness Editor Kyle Wagner grew up in Pittsburgh and lived in Lake County, Ill., and Naples, Fla., before moving to Denver in 1993, where she reviewed restaurants for Westword before moving to The Denver Post in 2002. She considers the best days to be those that involve her teenage daughters and doing something outside, preferably mountain biking or whitewater rafting.

The pursuit of a healthier state through better living. The Denver Post's ColoradoFit blog features local experts on the latest fitness trends, active lifestyles and nutrition options in Colorado and beyond.